Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Explained’ On Netflix, A Digestible Docuseries From Vox

Netflix’s latest entry into their weekly fare is Explained, a new docuseries from Vox that takes short deep dives into topics ranging from diets and cryptocurrency to monogamy and genetic editing. Each episode is under 20 minutes long, serving up interesting explanations in digestible form. 

EXPLAINED: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: The first installment of Explained, “Monogamy”, begins with a series of fast-paced images from movies and television shows enforcing traditional ideas of romance that are instilled in us from a very young age. It’s not particularly impactful, but it’s compelling enough to make you curious about what comes next.

The Gist: In the first episode, we’re shown that all those movies and TV shows that tell us to wait for one true love may seem ideal, but it turns out humans are pretty terrible at it. Our inability to be monogamous has kept Jerry Springer on the air for decades. Divorces happen everyday. Heartache is inevitable. So why do we strive towards something so seemingly unattainable? What does the history of humanity, biology, and the promiscuity of our primate relatives tell us about monogamy? Average couples and experts all weigh in on this, painting a picture of what it means to fall in love – and whether or not monogamy is actually as crucial as we’ve been conditioned to believe it is.

Our Take: It’s rare that a docuseries has the self-restraint to present us with compact, compelling episodes, but that’s exactly what Explained does. It’s digestible, sharp, and interesting, turning its subjects into characters and employing the help of some particularly convincing familiar faces for each subject. The episodes that follow this first installment – there are 3 currently streaming on the platform – dive into the controversial process of gene editing and the racial wealth gap. They similarly assemble their facts in a fresh, fun manner, with snappy editing and a wealth of experts on their respective topics. By presenting the bigger picture of subjects in the zeitgeist, Explained stays relevant and on the front lines of answering “why?” to the questions we haven’t quite bothered to ponder.

Sex and Skin: As this episode dives into monogamy, there’s a fair share of discussion of sex and the way human beings connect with each other on a physical level, but this docuseries isn’t here to be salacious. If you’re here for the sexy stuff, you should probably look elsewhere.

Parting Shot: The last thing we see is a montage of all the couples we met at the beginning of the episode, as the narrator tells us that we may not have evolved to be monogamous – but we have evolved to be adaptable. That last image of the smiling couple is enough to leave you with a smile of your own as you process your thoughts on the episode as a whole, making it a perfect bookend.

Sleeper Star: As this is an informative docuseries, it’s hard to point out a “sleeper star”, but there are certainly some standout documentary subjects that appear in each installment.

Most Pilot-y Line: No pilot-y lines here. The narration is fresh, funny, and informative.

Our Call: Stream it. It’s hard to find this kind of contemporary, self-aware docuseries that focuses on subjects we don’t often take the time to discuss anymore. With the help of prominent experts in the fields explored and the input of everyday people, each episode becomes something uniquely compelling.

Stream Explained on Netflix